I'm on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For 18 months I'm living in the Retalhuleu, Guatemala area, teaching people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm so excited to be in Guatemala!

Beautiful Guatemala

Me with a random field worker. I love the knife!

Monday, November 26, 2012

2 Baptisms and Hopefully 1 More Next Week

Hey everyone!

2ND to last email! OH MY! OK well this week went
really well, here are a few highlights:

1. Baptisms!!!! On Saturday we had 2 baptisms! One was a niño,
a grandson of a member. And the other was Abel!!!! Abel is the kid who has
wanted to get baptized for months but his mom wouldn't give him
permission, until now!!! Abel is such a great kid. We had a special lesson with
him during the week to make sure he was ready for the pre-baptism
interview, and when we talked about the Holy Ghost and what it is and how it
feels and all that, he described it as a friend that's always with
you. I just thought that was so sweet because we didn't teach him
that or anything, that's really how he feels about the Holy Ghost. He
is excited to go on a mission when he’s been a member for one year. He is doing
this all on his own, without support of his family or anything, but the ward
loves him, the whole ward was excited about his baptism. He was so happy at his
service and he just knows that these things are right. His baptism really was
one of the most special baptisms for me that I've been to. It’s such
an honor to work with such special children of God who are so prepared.

2. New positive investigators -- With the help of the ward
missionaries, we are teaching some people who are super Evangelicos, but
super positive. I haven't really actually taught that many Evangelicos because
they always reject us, but these ones seem really prepared. When we ask if they've wondered
why there are so many churches, they say they have, they always have, and they've always
been looking for the answer and the true church. When we explain about the
restoration and the Book of Mormon, they totally get it and want to read
and ask God if it’s true. When we invite them to be baptized when they have an
answer, they say they will. And we invited them to church and they came! We are
really excited about them, and even though I won’t be around to see everything,
I’d say they'll be getting baptized soon. We saw lots of little
miracles this week with them and I hope that we can work with them this week
and set a baptismal date with them. They're prepared!

3. Well guys, I'm really hoping that next week, in my
last email, I can write that my last baptism was a girl named Yury. Her
husband is a member but his inactive, but we are reactivating him! They've gone
to church now 4 times and she is totally totally ready, just nervous I think
and not wanting to make the decision. But we are going to be working with them
all week of course....They're a special family for us and I can really see
the husband as a leader in the church someday. He’s got a whole lot to learn,
and a whole lot to change, but I can picture it.

Well, of course right now I've been reflecting a lot
on the past year and a half, all I've learned and experienced and all
the miracles that I've seen. I'm just really grateful for
my Savior and the miracles He’s done in my life. Today we are having a special Hermana’s
Conference with all the sisters in the mission, mostly because 5 of us are
leaving next week, and President is talking a lot about our conversion and if
we have really been converted or not here. I still have a really long ways to
go, but I hope to always remember and put into practice
what I've learned here. Ha, I've got one more week to go!
I'm grateful for the Gospel and for all that I have been given, and
I know that this is the Lords church and His work. I hope everyone has a great
week!!! Thanks for everything!

A Great Way to Write to Me

Go to dearelder.com and you can email a letter to me. They print the letter and put it in the pouch that's headed to my mission. Pouch letters are mailed from SLC to the mission home.

Email Me!

kylie.gilland@myldsmail.net

Write to Me or Send a Package

Hermana Kylie Blake Gilland

Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission

Iglesia Mormona, Boulevard Centenario

Salida a Coatepeque, Zona 2, Apt Postal 26

Retalhuleu

Guatemala

The Blog Master

Hi- I'm Beth Gilland, Kylie's mom. I will be keeping Kylie's missionary blog for her over the next 18 months while she is serving in Guatemala. I am a novice blogger, so I am learning as I go. Please feel free to email me if you have questions about Kylie, or if you would like to receive her letters via email. Email me at gillandfam2@sbcglobal.net